Oneil once had a good nightdream. Its ambiguity gave him a different ache that even his heart cannot say if it started from it. All of it reran against his face. Even the same details and delight are moving through that vision.
Curtains linen white were flowing from unknown heights. The fabrics are waving like walls of emerging sweet disclosure. Sunset light crisps through the scene. A window opens. Then, he hears the sound of glee. He keeps moving the curtains away until a familiar silhouette is also trying to get closer to him. There is a face he cannot recognize. Another set of curtains flowed between them. His hand reached out the figure and moved the fabric to know it. He can see the eyes clearly, but only that image alone with irises in its hue of amber bright. He proceeded to her cheeks then that familiar lips smiled at him. He pressed on trying to recognize her face. Then he woke up.
<Everything seems to be going smoothly. Oneil’s day begins without suddenly arising from a heavy dream. He has a good night's sleep. Every person that he passes by is smiling at him. Others are congratulating him because he is heading to his job. He may never comprehend why the people of Bayanihan counted his career shift a piece of big news. There are varying reactions. Others were amazed, and some mocked the mediocrity of his work. He does not have time to defend it. All he knows is that his day is good. The orientation was brief but uplifting. His assignment to the third floor is not a problem. He might meet Essi any time of the day while cleaning in the building of Gautarza Company. He is still smiling while standing inside the elevator with his equipment, right in the far unnoticeable corner. But it didn’t last when the office men started to mention Essi in their conversation.
His workplace is indeed a different world of experiences. The office workers are in varying proximity to him. But what is more astounding are the interns who make themselves their bosses. He even has to bear someone’s spoiled behavior and follow some of his requests. Does he even have a choice when it is his only way to save his colleague of older age? “Son, let me just do it,” the senior janitor, Mang Pablito said. “Please let me help you, sir. You are already busy with your tasks downstairs but you also have to produce bulk copies for that intern.” “I must follow that person, Riley. You know that they have the power to cut me off from my job,” Mang Pablito always talks like this, feeling chased by other people. “But they are just interns,” Riley said. “We are worke
After that conference, Essi still felt dissolving in herself. Her hands are quivering right back to the office. Her eyes are on her table. Was it thrill or disbelief? That she was able to speak with many people professionally? She would have just scolded them like how she did it with the Willoughby kids. Those kids can learn and recover from the fall. But to the interns, they have heavier stakes to protect and a grave consequence to face no matter how they fall. They are no more young like the Willoughby trainees. But they tend to be more stubborn than them. Essi is still shaking with disappointment in the interns. Essi could have let go of that now. But there are many cups of coffee and sandwiches placed on her table. “The youngsters seem to be taking double time to compensate for their offenses,” Victor tried jesting. He has a smug smile, waiting for his la
It becomes unfair to know that another gossip breaks out in the Gautarza Building. One intern passes it to another, at varying gravity and speculation. The one who witnessed the scene at the pantry has filtered out the name of Oneil for her advantage. Everyone else who heard her trivia cannot point out who that man could be. He might be a man of a reputation that the CEO of Gautarza Company counts as special. Too special that she even set aside her fiancé. “I knew it. This is always how an arranged engagement turns out. Either party has its relationship to another. Secretly dating while no one can see.” “Oh no, what would Sir Oneil say to her almost perfect fiancee?” That is how the conversation among the interns and regular office workers do. Five of them are in the same pantry. Speaking disgust and thrill while
Being a leader, the worst that you could have is fighting your group. Essi felt antagonizing her people again. At the scene of them getting to her entrance, she got even more disappointed that the event yesterday led to enslaving themselves at the service never required from them. They are following her, asking her how her morning is. One recites that the halls are already prepared for whatever she might like to do. Another implies that he already coordinated the press at any time that Essi has something to announce. Another one also said that he already prepared Essi’s office, neat, tidy and all papers are arranged on the side. Other than the machine, their stunts didn’t impress her. She saw an office worker trying to nudge in anger the janitor who was passing by him with his mop that had just touched the edge of his shoes. “Stop feeling guilty for forgettin
Bayanihan has also become the Town of Smiles. People are beaming sweet glances to Essi while she is leading her horse to the race track. There is no need for her to join. But here she is, standing with the strange beating of her heart, with Aggresso. The same excitement. The same thrill. Familiar feelings churned in her stomach as she looked around and knew that the people were watching them, ready to pay off their stakes for the horse of their likes. This race has become a battle for herself. A rebirth of her passion long-buried in the reality that new and young racers have come before her, willing to learn at the expense of her retirement. The only time that she was defeated was in an accident. Other than that, the podium is always her finishing place. This equestrian activity will always have a special place in her heart. Not because memories are joining i
That convention day is too short to be ordinary. But Oneil stands between the relativity of time to only exist as is. He cannot recall his speech. And he can no more explain his feelings to extended details. Speaking to unfamiliar people and smiling faces grant him no myriad of mixed excitements and anxiety at all. Perhaps, in his attempt to suppress his stage fright, he lost excitement and delight. He smiles and nods to those who greeted him after the forum. But he only felt empty inside. It could have been his defining moment for others to see that he is the standard-bearer of the Mercators. It should have been. All of them are convinced. Oneil can say it. Yet, it is himself he found the hardest to persuade. He got through that day. But what about another more to come? It is inevitable to not make that appearance the last one. So his thoughts rumbled at second's length to preclude his notice of time pas
Oneil is living in the feeling that Essi might come around anytime. Such a thrill, feeling chased and getting used to it. At first, it seems like running in circles. But later on, it has become part of his routine, a habit of his heart he cannot deny. He was waiting for her to be in the building. He got up earlier than usual. Arrived at his station at 6 AM. Prepared another cup of coffee in case Essi does not have one.The building of Gautarza is unusually silent. With about 500 people as their staff, and a fourth of them are on the first day of the seminar series, something inside the building is indeed empty. But Essi is passionate about making her employees updated on skills and knowledge systems. She once mentioned to Oneil that a lecture on work management and the dysfunction of alienation brought her to this motivation. But, perhaps, what makes Essi’s fresh handling methods on the company effective is how she strategically chooses the opportunities around her. Her
Essi has always believed that meeting people like the Binici Siblings meant a good thing --that be it in business or social partnerships. But what Karina offers to her is quite different. Her words have stronger meaning underneath their simplicity as if Katrina had been always trying to interfere in Essi and Oneil’s lives. “So you people are just engaged. It means there is still a greater possibility for any of you to quit, right?” she asked Essi with a hint of excitement. Her words simply do not respect the relationship between the two. Essi chose to not pay attention to it. But Katrina was bugging her in another way by trying to set Essi up with Wyath for coffee nothings and casual dinner. “I do not have much time. If this meeting does not make any sense, then I won’t go, Miss Binici,” Essi declined. “My brother is willing to marry the girl he likes,” Katrina inserted just to make the phone call go on. “Really? That’s good for him then,” Essi commented but was about to excuse he
When everything got settled, she found herself already bringing the large paper bag filled with the three casings where the jewels in their trinket boxes are placed. Her chauffeur waited for her outside and walked with her down the stairs of the auction house. Her car is also set to conclude her night from the Legalion. But before she took a step, Wyath went to her again. “Essi, since it is rare for us to meet, may I ask for your contact number?” Wyath was implying the personal one. “Okay,” Essi said and gave him her number. “But you should also give yours since my phone automatically sets an unknown number as spam.” When they got done exchanging numbers, Katrina went to Wyath to remind him that they must go home now. “Essi, it was nice to meet you. We’ll go ahead for now,” Katrina bid and dragged her brother to their car. “Will you still proceed to the hotel madame?” her chauffeur asked. “Yes, you can also take your time to enjoy things around,” Essi grinned and reminded him ab
It is the actual bidding night. With the preparation of the lights and the friendly interiors of the Legalion Action House, Essi knows this night shall be friendly to her vision. She takes a simple white dress with puff sleeves and white heels. She takes a silk cloth as her headband. Her appearance for the night is elegance mingled with youth and enthusiasm.“Welcome, Madame Essi,” the guard said upon recognizing her card. “This way please.”Essi followed the red carpet leading them to the Jewel Auction Hall No. 1. It is her first time to join an auction by herself. Oftentimes, she would just accompany a family member when they would like to purchase something from the auction. She continued walking around and not recognizing any familiar faces around the auction hall except Wyath. Wyath quickly noticed her too when he turned around. He approached her with a smile. He even introduced his sister to her.“This is my sister, Katrina. She’s the reason why we’d like to buy some of the Maes
Essi had a simple target in heading to Normandy. The Legalion Auction House announced its 25th jewelry auction. Essi was never attentive towards auctions. But this one sets a great importance in her agenda because it was the jewelry collection made by Maestro Marco. She had two important target items because of the discovery that she arrived upon studying the decoration and details on the jewelry portfolio of her grandmother Priscilla. Two pieces of jewelry are no more in the possession of the Paulsson household. It suddenly became included in the auction series of the Legalion because it is made by Maestro Marco.The first piece was dubbed as Ingrid’s because Essi’s grandfather had especially commissioned the jewel maker to make a bluebird-inspired jewelry as a ready gift for his daughter once she will be brought to the world. And yet the owner, continued sleeping.The second piece was a fancy yellow diamond about 80 carats filled with many more white diamonds on its side, forming l
Victor has to weigh many company concerns. First, for the Amyrgia-Gautarza. Second, to Essi’s Gautarza Company and third, to the Mercator Group. Concerning the first two, he can see the clear directions on how the owners would take their future paths. But for the Mercator Group, he couldn’t see exactly where it even errs or go on correctly.He became an instant breadwinner with a clear source of income because the other Mercators in their humble barn house have to lie low for a while. His great ally on the discussion for the Mercator Group was his father.“Our hope in raising this alarm is to the interim chairman himself,” Paulo said. “If only he could also be cooperative to us.”“I don’t see any reason though that he wouldn’t,” Victor stated. “That is why I talked to him about the deliberation of a new policy concerning the selling and purchase of shares.”“What do you see is the problem about the shares then?”“I see some problems of the old policy. It may allow the shareholders to
Sometimes, amid all trials, one couldn’t help but wonder how others felt for them. It was in Victor especially when he regarded how Mr. Arlelle must have reacted to the fate that chased the Mercators. Yet, hoping to be always in his favor, Victor could only remain in silent and work with perseverance. It must have been a good asset that he was not heard as a Mercator because no one would chase him in the hopes to scoop out a splice of an information that can serve a cup of tea. Victor was on his way back to Arlelle’s office, bringing the reports about the recent confirmations he received on his email. But while he was outside the office, he heard some key people of Amyrgia-Gautarza.“How come that you still keep him sir? Is he not a member of the Mercators? It is quite unsettling.”“How can I not when he is still officially a part of the Amyrgia-Gautarza? And what has he done then that he should be fired out?”“But he is a Mercator.”Victor couldn’t deny that maybe in the business wor
Because of the conversation Lady Imeldine and Latifa had in the dining room, Grant went to them with some mud on his jumper and polo. He was worried that Latifa cried again while no one was watching.A shine light hit his eye when he tried to look at what is on the table. He marched slowly until he could see what is inside the box.“Is this your last jewel that you would sell, Latifa?” he asked because he couldn’t recognize the jewel.It was pretty understandable. Because he was never able to see this ring right from its bidding and until his wife’s death. It was Paulo who kept it because Grant didn’t know about the many things that his wife bought.His daughter-in-law didn’t answer yet but his recognition was also now to the visitor. “Your highness,” Grant said. He bowed even lower because he is ashamed of his situation. Knowing that Lady Imeldine was a shareholder, it would be harder to explain his situation to the royalty.“Please, may you be comfortable in dealing with me for I am
It was surely a grave offense that Louis made only to stain the reputation of the house of the Emirvas. But Lady Imeldine couldn’t even make greater punishment against him by sending him back to their country because he would face more grievous repercussions from the entire royal clan concerning the ring. After all, she has compassion to this lad who was also alike to her, almost impossible to receive the crown. He is but a royal and yet has to live in a manner that could promote his name despite the absence of the crown.So Louis was grounded in the rest house and every inch of his move was under Lady Imeldine’s strict supervision. When he tried to beg to his aunt that maybe he could go with her to talk to Essi, she glared at him.“Isn’t it enough that you made a careless work here?” she snarled. “Louis! You even brought shame to our family in front of the Paulssons.”“I’m sorry,” Louis cried out barely having any sincerity since he said out of annoyance to his aunt’s endless squawk
When the prompt for writing kicks, it is sometimes hard to stop the feeling of typing it all. But when Essi got done, she was unsure on how she should continue her article. Because there was something missing about the details of the maestro. Until she remembered what Marco’s wife said when she asked why is it okay for them to look.“It’s just like our twins are also cheering for him.”Essi’s tears escaped from her eyes. Now she’s doubting if she should tell his story. She tried to call Oneil and glad that he had also picked up.“Why? Are you alright?” Oneil asked because it is still not yet 11PM. It means Essi must be still working for something. “But with all the curiosity that Essi has, she hesitated in asking.“Come on, you can tell me,” almost pleaded because when silence starts to answer, it means a bothersome case.“Did Sir Marco ever tell you that he would like some people to interview him? He’s quite famous as a master jeweler.”“You were inspired to write about him, is it?”